My photography business is off the ground! I have met so many wonderful new people and little people, it’s been really such a pleasure.
One of the areas I didn’t bank on, but has become popular, is the doggy-dog world. Yay. I love dogs. We don’t currently have any dogs right now, we are still a couple of years away but I have grown up with them. In fact, I can’t remember my parents ever not having a dog.
One of my favorites was with Dakota, the Therapy Dog.
I asked Dakota’s mommy to write up a little blurb about her and this is what she wrote.
Dakota, Our Therapy Dog
Dakota was on Death Row in Georgia before she arrived in Foster Care at Eleventh Hour Rescue www.ehrdogs.orgwhen she was 11 months old. I wanted a therapy dog, my son wanted a pet. After my oldest son had a heart transplant, I knew I wanted to give back. I wanted to help children and families in hospitals, knowing firsthand what it was like to be there for a long time. During our search for a dog, my questions were; do you think she would be a good therapy dog? Is she gentle? Does she listen? Does she have a sweet personality? These were my questions to find a successful therapy dog. These are questions that only be answered by adopting an older dog (not a puppy). Father’s Day of 2005, Danny and my oldest son David, my husband and I went to pick her up. She jumped right into the back seat of the car, she felt right at home.
After 6 weeks of training, she became a certified Therapy Dog in the Fall of 2005. Dakota and I now volunteer with http://www.sthuberts.org/page.aspx?pid=450. For the past 6 years, Dakota and I visit a local hospital, both the Cardiac and Pediatric floors once a month. http://www.barnabashealth.org/hospitals/saint_barnabas/mservices/volunteerresource.html We also visit Universal Institute www.UniversalInstituterehab.org every Friday morning. This is a rehab facility for patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries. She also visits the Cerebral Palsy High School of NJ www.cpnj.org once a month.
Dakota has brought smiles and love to not only my family, but to the many patients and people she meets every day of her very busy life.
Thanks, Dakota! You were the highlight of my day! I look forward to seeing you again.
ps….more dog photos coming. 2 very large great danes and a couple of pugs!
Happy Sunday!